This story has not been supported by historical records, but it does make a good story. The second story I heard was about the overthrow of the Mongol rule. Today, the Jade Rabbit is still trying to make a pill by mixing and grinding various herbs. The Jade Rabbit consented if she would help him with making the elixirs for the gods while he tried to make a pill just like the one she had swallowed. She asked the Jade Rabbit, the rabbit who lived on the moon, to compound another pill for her to return to earth and her husband. When Chang’e landed on the Moon, she coughed up half the pill. Chang’e kept on floating until she landed on the Moon. Although Houyi wanted to shoot her in order to prevent her from floating further, he could not bear to aim his bow at her. She started to float into the sky because of the overdose. Houyi returned at that moment and Chang’e was so startled, she swallowed the whole pill. She began examining her husband’s things and found the pill. While Houyi was away, Chang’e found herself suffering from boredom. Some time later, Emperor Yao summoned Houyi to help with another event affecting the country. In payment for saving the earth, Emperor Yao gave Houyi a pill that gave eternal life, but only half was needed for one person. The Emperor of China, Emperor Yao commanded Houyi, a master archer, to shoot down nine of the suns to protect the earth. One day, the ten birds that were the alternating suns of the world, circled the world together scorching the earth. According to the story I was told, Houyi and Chang’e had been immortals who had angered the other gods and had been banished to live on earth as mortals. The first story I heard was about Houyi (后羿, Hòu Yì) and his wife, Chang’e (嫦娥, Cháng’é). There are two varieties of stories that are told particularly for the moon festival and I have found them to be fascinating. While events vary from region to region of China, the people spend time with their families, eat moon cakes and watch the moon in appreciation while telling stories. While the festival has been mentioned in ritual descriptions from 3,000 years ago, the festival became popular during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). This festival has a long history filled with traditions and stories. ?Īnyway, back to the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese may use the Gregorian calendar for official business and record keeping, but they use a lunar calendar for celebrations and determining when the best times are for a person to do things that cause life changes, like getting married, starting new projects, moving and even having children. The festival always occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is true, but it isn’t the official name. My first introduction to the festival was a tame 2 hour celebration last year in the USA and I was told that it was called the Moon Festival. While that name is the English translation the Chinese call it, Zhōngqiū jié (中秋节). I would like to take a moment to introduce our readers to a popular and well enjoyed festival here in China.